Hand luggage



J 10, 1969 M. J. LUGASH 1 s, 8 83 HAND LUGGAGE Filed Feb. 28,, 1968 Y Sheet of a MILK-Z4645 477aey56 June 1969 M. J". LUGASH 3, 4 ,839

HAND LUGGAGE Filed Feb. 28, 1968 Sheet "/3. of 3 INVENTOR. Ma J1 U645A/ W fiw w 1% 40%"M 1 I v ,lrroevsgg M. J. LUGASH June 10, 1969 HAND LUGGAGE Sheet 3 as Filed Feb. 28, 1968 9 RHM M. L 3 x 56% M M 4 rroeA/izs 3,448,839 HAND LUGGAGE Max J. Lugash, 837 S. Spaulding, Los Angeles, Calif. 90036 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 672,060, Oct. 2, 1967. This application Feb. 28, 1968, Ser. No. 709,121

Int. Cl. A45c 3/00, 13/26; A41d 27/22 US. Cl. 190-49 21 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A piece of hand luggage including a compartmented case or reinforced bag which is adapted to within the confines of a suit coat or the like, the case or bag incorporating a hanger for the suit coat and being fitted with a hanging hook extending through the collar of the coat and, also, a carrying handle extended through the coat flaps, both the handle and hanger also extending through a protective cover enclosing the suit coat and case or bag.

Cross-reference to related application This application is a continuation-in-part of my co: pending application, Ser. No. 672,060 filed Oct. 2, 1967, and now abandoned.

This invention relates to hand luggage, particularly of the type in which coats may be carried without folding and having provision for the carrying of small articles as well.

A variety of types of hand luggage have heretofore been devised of the type in which a suit coat is freely suspended within a rigid framework or case, the case in turn being provided with a carrying handle on one side. Specimens of this type of luggage are exemplified, for example, in Dallas Patent No. 2,841,257 or 'Breglia Patent No. 2,755,896 in which rigid frames with such handles are enclosed within tightly fitting covers. In this type, suit coats, dresses, trousers and the like are properly supported so long as the luggage is in the upright position but in the event of the luggage being tipped over upon its side or inverted, as sometimes occurs in the handling of the luggage by porters and others, the garments become displaced relative to their hangers and relative to the surrounding case, resulting in wrinkling. Devices of this type are also wasteful of the space occupied by the luggage, and further, the provision, if any, for the stowage of relatively small articles such as shirts, socks, shaving kit, and the like, is crude or makeshift. In short, the prior pieces of hand luggage of this type are not very well suited to serve as a carrier of all of the garments such as might be required for a trip of a week or two because the suit coats or dresses are not properly supported, the space is not utilized very efiiciently, and they are not at all adapted to serve as a complete wardrobe with capacity for small articles as well as for suit coats, trousers, and dresses.

An object of this invention is to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art devices and to provide a compact, light-weight wardrobe type of hand luggage adapted for the eflicient stowage and carriage of all articles of clothing such as would be required to sustain a traveller during a trip of a week or so. The piece of hand luggage of this invention comprises a rigid case or a compartmented bag on a rigid. frame adapted for the reception of the smaller articles of clothing and accessories or toilet articles, and of such area, depth and configuration as is adapted to fit within the confines of a suit coat, for example. This inner frame or case is adapted to serve as the hanger for a suit coat or coats United States Patent 3,448,839 Patented June 10, 1969 frame or case so that the luggage is carried between the arm and the side of the user, the hanger hook then extending into the armpit so that the luggage is stabilized during carrying. A zippered outer cover is provided which is of a loose fit relative to the frame or case but which somewhat snugly fits over the suit coats hung therein so that irrespective of the position or attitude of the luggage the suit coats are securely held against displacement relative to the frame or case. The outer cover is itself provided with appropriate apertures through which the hanger hook and handle extend. The zippered opening of the cover permits ready access so that small articles may be withdrawn from lower compartments of the inner bag or case while the traveller is en route and without disturbing the suit coat or other articles. In addition, the carrying handle has a dual function in that it is, additionally, a portion of a pants hanger that is removably associated with the case whereby the trousers may be hung separately from the frame or case and free access is then permitted to the contents of the compartments of the bag or case.

The foregoing and other features and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of my invention and the manner of carrying it;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view showing the trousers hanger-carrying handle removed from the coat hanger case;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the device after packing but without the protective cover'and with a suit coat being shown in phantom outline to disclose the other garments packed within the case;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the device afterthe protective covering has been closed, some of the enclosed parts being shown in phantom outline; FIGURE 5 is a sectional view along the line 55 of FIGURE 2 showing details of the hanger hook construction and attachment;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 4; FIGURE 7 is a bottom end view taken in the direction of the arrow 7 in FIGURE 4; I

' FIGURE 8 is a perspective view showing the case and trousers hanger portions of the luggage in disassembled relationship to illustrate the use of the case as a wardrobe;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view, with portions cut preferred embodiment of the invention and the manner of carrying it;

- FIGURE 13 is a perspective view of the frame of the luggage shown in FIGURE 12 also showing, in phantom outline the trousers hanger-carrying handle detached from the frame;

FIGURE 14 is a perspective view of the frame portion of the luggage, with portions cut away, to show interior details of construction;

FIGURE 15 is a sectional view on the line 15-15 of FIGURE 13 and also indicating, in phantom outline, the manner of detaching and attaching the carrying handle frame to and from the inner frame; and

FIGURE 16 is a partial elevational view, partly in section and on a larger scale, of the hanger hook for the inner frame.

Referring to the drawings, one embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGURES 1 through 8. In general, the device includes a case 10, a separable trousers hanger 12 and a protective cover designated generally by the numeral 14.

The case may be made of any suitable essentially rigid material, for example, wood, fiberboard, or a synthetic plastic and resembles a box-like compartmented tray. More specifically, the case 10 includes a fiat lower end wall 16, a pair of opposite side walls 18 and 20 and an upper end wall 22, which walls surround and are preferably formed integrally with a flat back panel 24. Interiorly, the case 10 is provided with a series of upstanding partitions 26, 28 and 30 which extend between the side walls 18 and 20 to divide the interior of the case into compartments of an appropriate size for the reception of smaller articles of clothing such as shirts, socks and undergarments. Additionally, another short partition 32 may be provided to extend between the lower end wall 16 and the adjacent partition 30 thus providing a relatively small compartment adapted for the reception of a removable tray 34, specifically adapted to hold a toilet kit. The foregoing manner of division of the space within the case 10 will of course be understood as being by way of example only since a great variety of manners of division of this case will undoubtedly occur to persons familiar with luggage.

It will be observed that the upper end wall 22 of the case 10 is shaped and adapted by convergent portions to serve as a shaped hanger for the reception of the shoulders of a suit coat or the like. As is best illustrated by FIGURE 3, the case 10 has a side wall depth, say on the order of three inches, and a width between the side walls 18 and 20 such that the case .10 can be received within the confines of a suit coat when the suit coat is hung on the upper end wall 22 of the case 10. At the same time, the case 10 is preferably of a length greater than the length of an ordinary suit coat so that the lower end wall 16 serves as a stable support for the piece of luggage on a ground surface. At the same time the hem of the suit coat is spaced above the ground, so as to protect the hem of the garment against the possibility of being folded and wrinkled under the case 10. A hook 38 extends upwardly from the apex of the upper end wall 22 of the case 10, this hook having a shank 40 rotatably mounted in a suitable aperture formed in the apex of the upper end wall 22, the shank at its inner end being provided with a boss 42 adapted to bear on the inside of the upper end wall. A ring 44 may be secured to the shank 40 of the hook 38 exteriorly of the upper end wall 22 to limit axial displacement of the shank in the aperture which receives it.

Referring to FIGURE 2, the pants hanger 12 includes a rod over which a pair or pairs of trousers may be hung and which may, for example, be made of a piece of wood dowel. A V-shaped hanger frame may be made from two pieces of metal rod to define hanger arms 52 and 54, one of which is extended beyond the apex of the V to thereafter be bent into a hand mold or handle 56 that is projected out of the plane defined by the arms 52 and 54. Both of the arms 52 and 54 at their spaced apart ends are formed with loop portions 58 which are tightly wrapped around opposite end portions of the pants rod 50 to securely hold the rod 50 against axial displacement.

It will be noted that the side wall 20 of the case 10, interiorly at its upper end, is provided with a socket means 60 while the other side wall 18 at its upper end is provided with a notch 62 as a means to receive the opposite ends of the pants rod 50 of the hanger 12. Thus, it will be observed that the loops 58 of the hanger arms are spaced slightly inwardly of the opposite ends of the pants rod 50 whereby one end of the pants rod 50 is receivable in a frictional fit in the notch 62, while the other end of the pants rod 50 is receivable within the socket means 60 which may, for example, be a cupshaped piece of sheet metal. With this arrangement, the pair or pairs of trousers to be carried on the hanger 12 may be draped thereon while the hanger is out of the case 10, after which the opposite ends of the pants rod 50 may be snapped into the notch 62 and socket means 60 to be seated within the case 10 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 3. When the hanger 12 is thus installed in the case 10 the hanger arms 52 and 54 are disposed within the case 10 in approximately the plane of the open side of the case while the handle 56 protrudes outside the case 10 and approximately at the center of the case.

In order to hold the hanger 12 against turning about the axis of the rod 50 and also to more securely confine small articles of clothing within the adjacent compartment of the case 10, a pair of straps 66 and 68, one of which is provided with a buckle 70', each have an end secured by an appropriate fastener 72 to the case side walls 18 and 20. Thus, as is shown in FIGURE 3, the buckle 70 may be employed to hold the two straps 66 and 68 together to prevent outward swinging movement of the hanger 12 when the handle 56 is grasped to lift the piece of luggage. It should also be observed that the handle 56 is so oriented, while the hanger 12 is in place in the case 10, as to protrude out between the vertical edges or lapels of a suit coat which is hung on the upper wall 22 in the case 10. At a level beneath the hangerhandle 12, another strap 74 might be provided over another compartment to hold articles against falling out. This strap may be fastened at one end to the side wall 18 and at the other end he provided with one part of a snap fastener means 76, the other part of which is fastened to the other side wall 20.

The protective cover 14 is preferably made of a flexible sheet material, as for example, a waterproofed canvas, and is so dimensioned as to fit loosely relative to the case 10. As is shown in FIGURE 4, the cover 14 may comprise, for example, front and rear panels of fabric 78 which are sewn to the opposite edges of a side piece 80 to define a generally box-like envelope which will somewhat snugly fit one or more suit coats on the case 10. As is indicated in FIGURE 4, the upper end of the cover 14 is tailored to conform to the contours of a suit coat shoulder and the upper end wall 22 of the case 10. At a position corresponding to the apex of the upper end wall of the case, the piece 80 is formed with an opening 82 through which the shank 40 of the hanger hook 38 passes. The opening 82 is reinforced with binding tape and is provided with a snap tab fastener 84 which may be opened to expose the operating tab of a slide fastener means 86. This slide fastener extends down one shoulder of the protective cover 14, thence downwardly along one side and, as shown in FIGURE 7, may terminate in the bottom panel of the piece 80 at that end of the bottom panel opposite to the side wall down which the fastener 86 extends. Alternatively, as is shown in FIGURE 1, the slide fastener means 86 may continue upwardly along the other side panel of the cover 14 to terminate at the upper end of this second side panel. As yet another alternative, the slide fastener could continue to make a complete loop which both begins and ends in the reinforced opening 82.

To pack this luggage, it is first disassembled, that is, the protective cover 14 is first removed by opening the slide fastener means 86 in order to completely remove the protective cover or, alternatively, to leave the protective cover 14 hanging from the shank 40 of the hanger hook 38 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 8. The hanger device 12 is then removed from the case 10 as shown in FIGURE 2 and while the case 10 is preferably lying flat its compartments may be filled as desired with such small articles as socks, shirts, undergarments, slippers, toilet kit and other sundry items. The case having been loaded, the strap 74 may be then closed so that articles in the corresponding compartment will be held against displacement during the balance of the packing operation. One or more pairs of trousers may then be draped over the pants rod 50 after which the rod is then replaced into the socket 60 and notch 62 of the case 10. The hanger arms 52 and 54 should then be disposed in the manner shown in FIGURE 3, to lie flat against the contents of the corresponding compartment of the case 10, after which the straps 66 and 68 may be secured together by means of the buckle 70. It should be noted that the straps 66 and 68 are closed over the hanger arms 52 and 54 whereby the hanger device 12 is securely held against turning when the handle 56 is grasped to lift the piece of luggage.

Thereafter, one or more suit coats are hung on the upper end wall 22 of the case 10. The suit coats are preferably buttoned and care should be taken to ensure that the handle 56 protrudes between the lapels. The protective cover 14 may then be closed around the suit coats on the case 10 at which time the handle 56 is passed through a grommeted opening 88 provided in the front wall or panel 78 of the cover. The luggage may then be picked up by means of the handle 56 and transported in the manner shown in FIGURE 1 between one arm and the side of the body of the user, the hanger book 38 then being disposed in the armpit.

While the traveller is enroute, if he desires to obtain any small article such as may be stowed in the small compartment at the lower end of the case 10 or, for example, in the tray 34, the slide fastener 86 may be opened and the front panel 78 of the cover 14 lifted away. As illustrated in phantom outline in FIGURE 6, this gives access to the lower end of the case 10. While the traveller is in temporary quarters, the luggage may be partially disassembled as illustrated in FIGURE 8. Thus, the hanger device 12 may be removed and hung over a closet clothes rod 90 along with the case 10. The cover 14 having been opened, it may be entirely removed, if desired, or left hanging on the shank 40 of the hanger hook 38-, as shown in FIGURE 8. The case 10 may then continue to serve as a hanger support for suit coats. It may, however, be more convenient to place the suit coats on the convenventional hangers ordinarily found in hotel closets since the compartments of the case 10 will then be more conveniently accessible. The case 10 is very well adapted to serve as a wardrobe when used in the manner shown in FIGURE 8.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG- URES 9 through 11. In this species, the piece of luggage consists of a rigid framework 100 which supports a compartmented bag 102 and which is enclosable in a protective cover 104. More particularly, the rigid frame 100 may be made of a suitable essentially rigid material as for example, heavy gauge wire. The main portion of the frame may be made of a single length of wire which is bent to form a bottom rail 106, opposite vertically extending side rails 108 and 110, and upwardly convergent upper end rails 112 and 114. Loops 116 may be formed in the opposite side rails 108 and 110, tightly wound around a pants rod 118. An extension of one of the upper rails 112 and 114 may be for-med into a hanger hook 120 while the end of the other of the two rails 112 and 114 may be curled around the shank of the hook thus formed, as indicated at 122. The major portion of the frame 100 may thus be formed out of a single length of an appropriate rod-like material.

A carrying handle analogous to the handle 56 of the first described species of the invention may be formed out of a pair of rods 126 and 128 which are joined together to form a V, as indicated in FIGURE 10, with their divergent ends being fixed to the side rails 108 and as, for example, by means of welding. One of these two members is formed with an extension beyond the apex of the V shape which is formed into a handle 130 that is offset out of the plane of the frame 100. The protective cover 104 may be made in substantially the same manner as the protective cover 14 of the first described embodiment of the invention, that is, it is tailored to loosely fit relative to the framework 100, it is provided with a slide fastener means 132, the front panel is provided with a grommeted opening 134 through which the handle 130 can be passed, and an opening 136 at the upper end receives the shank of the hook 120.

In this species, the smaller articles of clothing and accessories are carried in a bag 138 which may be made of any appropriate flexible sheet material. It may, for example, be made of a sheet of synthetic plastic and include a large panel 140 dimensioned and shaped to fit within the boundaries defined by the frame 100. As one means of securing the bag 138 to the framework, a pair of flaps 142 and 144 may be folded over the convergent top rails 112 and 114 to extend reversely over the main portion of the sheet 140 and have their adjacent vertical edges secured together at 142 so that the bag 138 hangs from the top rails. A second piece of fabric 144, of the same width as the sheet 140, can be secured to one face of the panel 140 along vertical edges and its bottom edge to define a compartment in which such articles as shirts and undergarments may be disposed, as illustrated in FIG- URE l1. Along the lower edge of the sheet 140 a pair of smaller pieces 146 of fabric material may also be secured along opposite vertical edges and a bottom edge to define compartments for the reception and storage of smaller articles.

In the use of the second species of the invention, it may be packed while hanging in the vertical position, the protective cover 104 having first been entirely removed or hung to the rear side of the panel 140. The compartments of the bag 138 may then be packed with the smaller articles of clothing and accessories, as shown for example in FIGURE 9, after which trousers may be hung over the pants rod 118 to hang over the front of the bag 138. Thereafter, a suit coat or coats may be hung on the convergent upper rails 112 and 114 after which the protective cover 104 can be closed. The handle 130 will then protrude through the front panel of the cover 104 for transporting the device manually While the hook 120, as before, serves to suspend the piece of luggage on a closet clothes rod or, while enroute as, for example, in an aircraft cabin. As in the case of the first described embodiment of the invention, this second species of luggage, by virtue of its internal reinforcement, can also be simply rested on the ground, to bear on the bottom rail 106-, the vertical dimension of the frame 100 being such that, once again, the hem of the suit coats supported by the luggage will clear the ground surface.

The presently preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGURES 12 through 16. 'In general, this species includes an outer cover 150', a frame 151, a compartmented bag 152 that encloses the frame 151, and a trousers hanger-carrying handle 153 that is detachably connected to the frame 151.

More specifically, the frame 151 may be made from a single length of metal rod that is bent into a substantially rectangular shape, as is shown in FIGURE 14. Thus, the frame includes a bottom rail 155, an opposite pair of side rails 156, and a top rail 157. As is shown, the top rail 157 is curved in order to provide oppositely slop ing portions adapted to conformably support the shoulders of a suit coat to be supported thereon. At the apex of the top rail 157, a member 158 of inverted U-shape configuration is rigidly secured thereto for attaching a hanger hook 159 to the frame 151. Thus, as is best seen in FIGURE 16', a disc 160 may be affixed to the top of the member 158, the disc 160 being somewhat cupshaped in order to provide a clearance 161 between confronting surfaces of the disc and the member 158. The disc is formed with a central aperture 162 to rotatably receive a reduced diameter portion 163 of a swivel member 164 and a flange 165 is provided at the lower end of the portion 163 to prevent axial displacement of the swivel member upwardly out of the aperture 162.

In order to connect hook 159 to the frame 151, the upper end of the swivel member 164 is provided with a spaced pair of upstanding ears or lugs 166 while the lower end of the hanger hook is formed with an eye portion 167 that is received between these ears. A pin 168 extends through the eye portion 167 and has its opposite ends secured to the upper standing pair of ears 166. The swivel connection of the hook 159 to the frame 151 permits the hanger hook to be turned into and out of the same plane as the plane of the frame 151. Thus, to carry the luggage the hanger hook 159 is turned into the plane of the frame 151 so as to be more comfortably received in the arm pit of the user. Alternatively, by virtue of the swivel connection and when the frame 151 is hung from a closet rod, the frame may be turned in any desired direction in order to allow convenient access to either side thereof.

The bag 152 is tailored to closely fit around the frame 151 and is adapted not only to provide compartments for the reception of smaller articles of clothing but, also, to serve as a laundry bag. Thus, the bag 152 may, for example, be made up of a front panel 170 and a back panel 171 that are stitched or otherwise secured together along their upper and vertical edges so as to telescopically receive the frame 151 through the lower end of the bag. As is shown in FIGURE 14, the back panel 171 is formed with a scooped neck at 172 to provide clearance for the member 158. The front panel 170 has a rectangular portion of substantial area removed at its upper end to provide an opening 173 by means of which soiled clothing may be put into the interior of the bag 152. At their lower ends, the front sheet 170 and back sheet 171 are secured together by a slide fastener means 174 which will, of course, be normally closed in order to hold the soiled articles of clothing within the bag.

As is best shown in FIGURE 13, a pair of shirt compartments, for example, may be provided on the front panel 170. As will be evident, these compartments may, for example, each be defined by a piece of sheet material 175 having lower and vertical edges stitched or otherwise secured to the front panel 170 and each being provided along its upper edge with a slide fastener means 176. In similar fashion, and as is shown in FIGURE 14, the back panel 171 may be provided with a series of smaller compartments, each defined by another piece of sheet material 177 having lower and opposite side edges secured to the sheet and having a slide fastener means 178 along the upper edge.

The trousers hanger-carrying handle 153 may also be made from a single length of a metal rod bent into the shape best seen in FIGURE 13. Thus, the member 153 includes a top rail portion 180 shaped or bent into approximately the same shape as the top rail 157 of the frame 151 and whose opposite ends merge into a pair of short, vertical sections 181. The lower ends of the side portions merge into a convergent pair of sections 182 and 183, one of which is longer than the other to extend beyond their mutual apex to be formed into a handle that comprises an end portion 184 and an offset shank portion 185. As is shown in FIGURE 15, the offset portion 185 protrudes outwardly of the plane of the major portion of the member 153 to dispose the handle 184 in an offset position. Thus, as in the case of the first two described embodiments of the invention, the handle 185 is adapted to pass through the lapels of the suit coat and through the cover 150 to be disposed in the correct carrying position, as shown in FIGURE 12.

In order to provide a hanger for trousers or neckties, a rod 186 is mounted in the member 153. This rod may also take the form of a wooden dowel having a slot 187 formed in each of its opposite ends to receive one of the short vertical sections 181 of the handle frame.

As is shown in FIGURE 13, the member 153 is adapted to be detachably connected to the frame 151. For this purpose, a pair of generally L-shaped straps 188 are rigidly affixed as, for example, by welding to the top rail 180 immediately adjacent opposite sides of the apex of the top rail. As is best seen in FIGURE 15, the L-shaped members 188 project normally to the plane of the member 153 with their short legs 189 offset from and disposed generally parallel to the plane of the member 153. The members 188 are of a thickness to pass freely into and out of the opening 190 defined beneath the inverted U-shaped member 158. Thus, the opening 190', upon the member 153 being angularly related to the frame 151 readily receives the short legs 189 of the members 188 after which the handle frame 153 is swung down into substantial parallelism to the plane of the frame 151. Thereafter, the short legs of the members 189 of the members 188 serve to securely retain the member 153 against dropping out of the opening 190.

The protective cover 150 may be made in substantially the same manner as the protective cover 14 of the first described embodiment of the invention. Accordingly, the cover 150 is also tailored to fit loosely relative to the framework 151 and is provided with a slide fastener means 191. As before, the front panel of the cover 150 is provided with a grommeted opening 192 through which the offset shank portion 185 of the member 153 can be passed in order to dispose the handle 184 outwardly of the cover 150. An opening 193 at the apex of the upper end of the cover 150 receives the shank of the hook 159.

As will now be apparent, the compartments of the bag 152 are packed before the hanger member 153, having trousers and/or ties mounted on the rod 186, is connected to the frame 151. After the hanger member 153 and frame 151 have been assembled, suit coats may then be hung on the upper end of the frame 151 after which the handle 184 protrudes through the lapels of the suit coat. Then, the cover 150 may be closed about the suit coats in such manner that the handle 184 protrudes through the grommeted opening 192 in a front panel of the cover, as indicated in FIGURE 12.

After the cover 150 has been closed, the luggage may be picked up by the handle 184 without the hanger member 153 pivoting on the members 188, since the cover 150 restrains members 153 against such movement. However, if desired, the frame 151 may be provided with straps, such as the straps 66, 68 of FIGURE 2, secured to opposite sides of the bag 152 in a position to overlie the member 153 when the straps are closed.

While preferred and alternate embodiments of the luggage of this invention have been illustrated and described, changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention within the fair meaning of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Hand luggage comprising:

an essentially rigid hanger means having shape characteristics adapted to serve as a support for shoulder portions of a garment to be suspended thereon;

a cover means having shape characteristics adapted to substantially completely envelop a garment suspended on said hanger means and having shoulder portions adapted to be superimposed on shoulder portions of a garment whereby to suspend said cover means on said hanger means;

and a rigid means connected to said hanger means and having a handle portion that is laterally offset from a plane including said hanger means whereby said handle portion is projected through an opening of a garment suspended on said hanger means in order to be positioned for grasping by a hand of a user to lift said luggage.

2. Hand luggage as in claim 1 in which:

said hanger means is provided with an essentially rigid extension extending downwardly therefrom to a level approximating the level of a hem of a garment suspended from said hanger means;

said extension being engageable with the ground or floor surface in order to support the weight of said luggage and its contents.

3. Hand luggage as in claim 2 in which:

said rigid extension is sufficiently long to project to a level lower than the level of the hem of a garment suspended on said hanger means whereby to prevent the hem from coming into contact with the ground surface.

4. Hand luggage as in claim 2 in which:

said rigid extension comprises a substantially rectangular rigid frame that is rigidly integrated with said hanger means and is adapted to internally reinforce surrounding portions of a garment suspended on said hanger means.

5. Hand luggage as in claim 2 in which:

said rigid extension is of a tray-like configuration with shallow side walls having shape characteristics adapted for reception within the confines of a garment suspended from said hanger means.

6. Hand luggage as in claim 1 in which:

a compartmentalized means is connected an and beneath said hanger means;

said compartmentalized means having a shape adapted to be confined within surrounding portions of a gar-ment suspended from said hanger means and having at least one compartment for the reception of small articles.

7. Hand luggage as in claim 6 in which:

said compartmentalized means comprises an essentially rigid tray having a plurality of compartments formed therein.

8. Hand luggage as in claim 6 in which:

said compartmentalized means is of a pliable bag-like construction.-

9. Hand luggage as in claim 1 in which:

said hanger means is formed with an upstanding hook that extends through a neck opening of a garment suspended on said hanger means;

said cover means being provided with an opening through which said hook extends.

10. Hand luggage as in claim 1 in which:

said cover means is provided with an opening in a front panel thereof in registration with a shank of said handle whereby said handle may be passed through said panel opening to be positioned exteriorly through said cover means.

11. Hand luggage as in claim 1 in which:

said cover means comprises a substantially tubular envelope made of a pliable sheet material, said shoulder portions of said cover means being tailored for a loose fit relative to said hanger means,

said cover means being provided with a means for opening and closing said cover means.

12. Hand luggage comprising:

a substantially rectangular rigid frame made of a rodlike material and formed with a convergent pair of upper end rod portions adapted to support shoulder portions of a garment to be suspended thereon;

said frame including a hanger hook formed at the apex of said upper end rod portions;

a hanger rod having opposite ends interconnected to opposite sides of said frame subjacent said convergent upper end rods of said frame;

said frame having a generally rectangular lower end portion extending vertically downwardly beneath said hanger rod;

said frame having an overall length approximating the overall length of the garment to be suspended from said convergent upper end rod portions; and

a handle rigidly interconnected to said frame that is offset from a plane including said frame;

said handle having a shank that is adapted to be extended through an opening in the garment suspended from said convergent upper end rod portions of said frame whereby the handle is positioned exteriorly of the garment in order to be grasped by the hand of a user for lifting said luggage.

13. Hand luggage as in claim 12 further comprising:

a vertically elongated sheet of a pliable material having an upper end supported on an upper end portion of said frame, said sheet having at least one bag-like compartment formed on at least one face thereof for the reception of small articles,

said sheet being disposed within the outlines of said frame.

14. Hand luggage as in claim 12 in which:

a cover means is provided of a tubular construction and made of a pliable sheet material that is tailored to substantially fully enclose a garment suspended on said frame,

said cover means having shoulder portions tailored to be seated on shoulder portions of a garment suspended on said frame, the upper end of said cover means being provided with an opening at the apex of said shoulder portion to pass a shank of said hook therethrough,

a front panel of said cover means also being provided with an opening adapted to receive said shank of said handle.

15. Wardrobe hand baggage comprising:

a case of tray-like configuration having a lower end wall, a pair of opposite side walls and a pair of convergent walls defining an upper end wall of said case,

said convergent walls being adapted to support shoulder portions of a garment suspended thereon and said case being of a depth and width adapted to be con- 7 fined within a garment suspended on said upper end wall of said case,

said case being interiorly divided by a plurality of partitions into a plurality of compartments,

a hook connected to said upper end wall of said case at the apex of said convergent walls to be positioned to extend through a neck opening of a garment suspended thereon;

and a cover means for enclosing said case and a garment suspended thereon, said cover means having shoulder portions of a size and shape to be seated on shoulder portions of a garment suspended on said case whereby said cover means is also suspended on said case,

said shoulder portions of said cover means being provided with an aperture in an apex portion through which said hook of said case extends.

16. In a piece of hand luggage, the combination comprising:

an essentially rigid hanger means having shape characteristics adapted to serve as a support for shoulder portions of a garment to be suspended thereon;

and a handle frame detachably connected to said hanger means in a position to normally extend downwardly from said hanger means to a handle portion of said handle frame that is offset from a plane including said hanger means.

17. Hand luggage as in claim 16 in which:

said hanger means and said handle frame are detachably interconnected by a slot in said hanger means that receives a pair of L-shaped straps on said handle frame.

18. Hand luggage as in claim 16 in which:

said hanger means and said handle frame are detachably interconnected by a hanger rod that is afiixed to said handle frame, said hanger means having opposite side portions adapted and arranged to detachably receive opposite ends of said hanger rod.

19. Hand luggage as in claim 17 further comprising:

a cover means having shape characteristics adapted to substantially completely envelop a grarrnent suspended on said'hanger means and having shoulder portions adapted to be superimposed on shoulder portions of a garment whereby to suspend said cover means on said hanger means;

said cover means preventing displacement of said handle frame outwardly from said means during lifting of said luggage by said handle.

20. Hand luggage as in claim 16 further comprising:

a tray-like member, said hanger means comprising a pair of convergent walls that together define an upper end wall of said tray-like member,

said tray-like member being vertically elongated and having opposite side walls and a lower end wall and interiorly divided into a plurality of compartments;

said tray-like member having a vertical length approximating the length of garment to be suspended from the said hanger means and being sulficiently shallow to be confined within surrounding portions of the garment to be suspended on said hanger means.

21. Hand luggage as in claim 20 in which:

said side walls of said tray-like member at their upper ends are provided with axially aligned means for detachably receiving opposite ends of said hanger rod,

said handle being interconnected to said hanger rod by means that dispose said handle in a position laterally offset from said hanger rod,

said tray-like member and handle being provided with a means to selectively prevent relative displacement of said handle outwardly from said tray-like member when said hanger rod is interconnected to said traylike member and during lifting of said luggage by said handle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,109,141 2/1938 Richter 190-41 2,686,620 8/1954 Waldman 22388 2,755,896 7/1956 Breglia 190-41 X DONALD F. NORTON, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

272 5 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,443,339 Dated June 10, 1969 MAX J LUGASH Inventofls) It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 9, Line 27, delete the word "an" and insert the word -'-t0'!.

Column 11, Line 3 "grarment" should be garment; Line 9 before word "means" insert the word -hanger; Line 18 insert the word being before the word "interiorlyl'.

SIGNED AND SEALED SEP 3 019 69 (SEAL) Attest:

Edward Fletcher, 11'. I

Am WILLIAM E. mm, .m.

tmg officer Oomissioner of Patents 

